The Puppet Master [One Piece]

The Meeting Pt. 3

~Yassop’s POV ~ (Briefly)

                Shanks came back without Echo and in the midst of his broiling rage ended up knocking out a good portion of the crew causing Benn and I to exchange worried looks. Where was the brat? Why wasn’t she with him?

                “Did something happen?” I asked cautiously, it was rare for the laid back man to lose his temper, almost unheard of him to actually be seething with rage.

                Shanks was pacing, listening intently for the slightest disturbance from the other ship, making sure he could hear her if she called out for help. “She’s talking to the Old Man.”

                “Eh? I thought that was what you we-.” I paused as I realized that would only anger him, “I’m sure she’ll be alright, she can always run away. Never seen anyone run as fast as the brat.”

                “She’s not wearing her wires.” Shanks said somewhat distantly as he bawled his hand into a fist. “If something happens…” It wasn’t necessarily rage; it was worry, endless tormented worry.

                “Nothing will happen.” Benn attempted to reassure our distraught captain, “She’s a quick thinker and she can predict his every move. She’s a smart kid; she’ll be in control of the situation.”

                ~Echo’s POV~

                I trembled, shaking like a leaf, beneath the giant of a man’s cold golden eyes. What had I gotten myself into? Shanks was pissed and now I was alone with the man everyone said was the strongest man in the world.

                Pineapple head, Marco, was sitting off to the side watching me carefully. He did protest to the Old Man’s wishes due to his close relationship with his missing nakama and said he wanted to listen in. When I said that was fine, the aura around Shanks became even more menacing than before and even though he hadn’t activated his Haki, I felt like I was going to faint.

                “Speak, girl.” Whitebeard roared nearly causing me to topple over.

                “I-I saw it.” I winced knowing how ridiculous it was going to sound. He was going to think I was crazy.

                “You saw it? How?” Marco asked calmly.

                I bit my lip and fidgeted with the bottom of my plain black button up shirt, “I don’t know how to describe it without sounding like I’ve lost my mind, but that’s pretty much how it feels.” I said softly.

                Marco looked thoroughly confused but I could see the gears turning in Whitebeard’s head as he motioned for me to continue.

                “Everything gets cold and I feel as if something foreign has invaded my mind. I don’t have a good grip on it yet, but every time it happens, I see things, impossible things.” My voice shook at this, “Things that happen far away not only in distance but in time.”

                Marco raised a slender brow at this, “You see the future?” He scoffed and looked to Whitebeard expecting the Old Man to lash out at me for wasting his time.

                Whitebeard looked thoughtful, “What island are you from, girl?” He asked sternly.

                I bit my lip once more as images of my homeland flashed through my mind, “Funesto.”

                Whitebeard nodded solemnly, “I cannot stop him, but with this knowledge, I can be better prepared to help him if and when the time comes.”

                “Oyaji?” Marco sounded shocked at his Captain’s response.

                Whitebeard waved me off, “Take her back to the red haired brat before he does something stupid.”

                Brat? Did he just call Shanks a brat? Just how old was this man?

                “Oy, come on.” Marco sighed and gently gripped my arm steering me back. He paused as we got about half way between the deck Whitebeard was lounging and the main deck where the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates were waiting anxiously. “I have a question for you.”

                I met his electric blue gaze reluctantly not liking how close he was standing to me, knowing full well that if I were to bolt he’d be fast enough to grapple me. “Okay.” My voice was surprisingly steady.

                “Do you know Ace?” He stared into my eyes trying to detect any sign of deceit.

                I shook my head slowly. “I’ve never met him.”

                “You were crying for him though, yeah?”

                I nodded.

                His strong hand gently pat me on the head, “Thank you.” He smiled softly before resuming his pace. After a few steps he realized I was still frozen in place, “Oy, hurry up.” He chuckled.

                Why did he thank me?

[Random obsessive side note (??? *shrugs* whatever I'm gonna go with that..) I have listened to this song (The one floating over there somewhere >>>>>>) like 30+ times just today.... haha]